Method of assembling an unloading crane

ABSTRACT

A crane, especially for unloading ships, which includes a bridge beam and a front support to be placed adjacent the water side and also includes a rear support to be placed remote from the water side, each of said supports having a travelling beam and posts extending upwardly from the pertaining travelling beam. Hinge means which are provided on the lower ends of the posts and on the travelling beams of the pertaining supports pivotally connect the pertaining posts to the pertaining travelling beams so as to permit an upward folding of the respective posts to an upright position in which they can be firmly connected and arrested relative to the pertaining travelling beam. According to a preferred method of assembling the crane, first the travelling beams of the two supports by means of their travelling carriages are placed upon the crane rails and held by tensioning means, whereupon the rear portion of the bridge beam is placed upon the travelling beam of the rear support and upon an auxiliary support. Subsequently the posts of the rear support are connected at their lower ends by hinge means relative to the pertaining travelling beam and by means of a pull-in mechanism already mounted on the rear portion of the bridge beam are pivoted upwardly to and secured in their final positions on the pertaining travelling beam.

United States Patent 11 1 Redelfs 1 METHOD OF ASSEMBLING AN UNLOADING CRANE Hans Redell's. Wilhelmshaven, Germany [75] lnventor:

Fried. Krupp Gesellschaft mit besehrankter Haftung. Essen Germany 22; Filed: Feb. 7. 1974 1211 Appl. No: 440.471

[73] Assignee:

Primur li.t'ulnt'rwr-Robert J. Spar Assistant liruminer-Lawrencc l. Oresky Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Walter Becker June 10, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A crane. especially for unloading ships. which includes a bridge beam and a front support to be placed adjacent the water side and also includes a rear support to be placed remote from the water side, each of said supports having a travelling beam and posts extending upwardly from the pertaining travelling beam. Hinge means which are provided on the lower ends of the posts and on the travelling beams of the pertaining supports pivotally connect the pertaining posts to the pertaining travelling beams so as to permit an upward folding of the respective posts to an upright position in which they can be firmly connected and arrested relative to the pertaining travelling beam. According to a preferred method of assembling the crane. first the travelling beams of the two supports by means of their travelling carriages are placed upon the crane rails and held by tensioning means. whereupon the rear portion of the bridge beam is placed upon the travelling beam of the rear support and upon an auxiliary support. Subsequently the posts of the rear support are connected at their lower ends by hinge means relative to the pertaining travelling beam and by means of a pull-in mechanism already mounted on the rear portion of the bridge beam are pivoted upwardly to and secured in their final positions on the pertaining travelling beam.

7 Claims 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 10 I975 i SHEET 1 METHOD OF ASSEMBLING AN UNLOADING CRANE When mounting machine constructions which extend upwardly rather far. for instance crane installations. it is customary to employ a number of auxiliary means for the assembly. such as posts, mobile cranes with long booms having such a height that they will reach also the highest parts of the respective construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a crane and method of mounting the crane which will considerably reduce the mounting expenses and in particular the costs for the employment of high mounting hoists or the like.

These and other objects and advantages ofthe invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings. in which:

FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 9. l2, l4 and 16 respectively illustrate views and longitudinal sections respectively of different mounting phases as seen when looking in the driving direction of the crane.

FIG. 2 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow III of FIG. 1.

FIG. Sis a section taken along the line V V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow VI of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow VIII of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow X of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates on a larger scale than FIG. 10 a detail indicated in FIG. I with the numeral XI.

FIG. 13 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow XIII of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow XV of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a section taken along the line XVIIXVII of FIG. [6.

FIG. 18 is a view as seen in the direction of the arrow XVIII of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 shows an mounted crane.

The crane according to the present invention, which may for instance be a ship loading crane and which comprises a bridge beam and a front as well as a rear support. said supports including a travel beam and posts protruding therefrom, is characterized primarily in that at the foot ends of the posts as well as at the travel beams there are provided hinges which permit a folding upward of the posts during the assembly operation into positions in which the posts are connected to the travel beams.

An arrangement according to the invention of this type brings about the advantage that the assembly and mounting can be effected with the aid of devices which pertain to the finish-mounted crane. In particular. it is advantageous that those structural elements which in the end condition of the crane extend far upwardly are by means of a retracting mechanism ofthe crane folded upwardly after they have previously by means of hinges been connected to structural elements such as the bridge beam which are first mounted closely to the ground. The thus obtained mounting condition furisometric view of the finishnishes the favorable possibility to take advantage of the upwardly extending structural elements. for instance the support at the land side of a ship unloading crane and of the posts pertaining to the support on the water side for hoisting the bridge carrier with the structural elements for instance a crane carriage mounted on the ground. by passing the cables of corresponding winches on the ground over deviating rollers at the tips of the upwardly extending structural elements.

Referring now to the drawings in detail. there will first be described the finish-mounted crane according to FIG. I9. The crane of FIG. 1) concerns a crane for unloading container ships 1. This crane is provided with a support 3 on the land side and a support 4 on the water side. These structural elements are designed in conformity with the building blocks system and are rigidly connectcd to each other. The bridge beam 2 com prises a rear section 5 which extends from the head piece 6 of the support 3 on the land side to the support 4 on the water side and also comprises a beam 7 which is so journalled in joints 8 on the support on the water side that it can be folded upwardly from the illustrated position in which it extends while containing the rearward part 5, over the ship I to be unloaded. On the bridge beam 2 there are provided on both sides rails 9 for a cable line trolley 10 the frames of which are located below the bridge beam 2 and project on both sides beyond the same.

The support 4 on the water side is designed as a rectangular frame the upper tie beam ll of which is located on the rearward part 5 of the bridge beam closely behind the beam 7 and has its ends rigidly connected to the head pieces I2 of the posts 13 of support 4. The posts 13 are standing upon the ends of a travel beam 14 forming the lower tie beam of the frame. The posts [3 are connected to the end faces of the travel beam I4 by means of hinges 15 the axes of which are horizontal and extend transverse to the landing quay 16. Furthermore, the posts [3 are rigidly connected to the travel beam 14 by means of screws 15a. The travel beam 14 rests at both ends on carriages 17 which have driving motors l8 and travel on a rail 19 parallel to the edge of the quay 16.

The support 3 on the land side has an A-shaped part which comprises a traveling beam 20 and two inclined posts 21 which form the legs of an isosceles triangle. Mounted on the upper ends of the posts 21 is an intermediate member 22 which carries the head piece 6. The posts 21 have their foot ends connected to the traveling beam 20 by means of hinges 23 which are located on that upper longitudinal edge of the traveling beam 20 which faces toward the water, said hinges being parallel to the traveling direction of the crane. The foot ends of the posts 2] are, for instance. by screws rigidly connected to the travel beam 20. This travel beam 20 rests at one end by downwardly directed extensions on two travel mechanisms 24 which have driving motors 25 and travel on a rail 26 parallel to the edge of the quay.

In the space above the travel beam 20 between the posts 21 there are arranged on a plate 27 the trolley carriage mechanism 28 and the hoisting mechanism 29 for the cable pull trolley 10. The cables 30 of the trolley mechanism 28 are on that side of the support 3 on the land side which faces toward the water extending up wardly up to the deviating rollers 31 which are mounted in torsion-free extensions 32 which laterally protrude from the rear end of the part 5 of the bridge beam in lateral direction with regard to the latter. From here, strands of the cables 30 extend on both sides of the bridge beam 2 to connecting areas on the cable trolley carriage 10. Other strands of the cables 30 extend from the reversing rollers 31 via reversing rollers 32 which are mounted on the top side of the upper connecting beam 11 and pass over the reversing rollers 34 at the front end of the beam 7 to other connecting areas at the cable trolley carriage 10.

From the hoisting mechanism 2. two cables 35 pass to the reversing rollers 36 which are likewise journalled in torsion-resistant extensions 32. From here, the cables 35 pass on both sides of the bridge beam 2 to the upper block rollers 37 which are mounted on the cable trolley carriage from where the cables pass to the lower block rollers 38 which are mounted on the top side of a supporting frame (Spreaders) 39. From the lower block rollers 37 the cables 35 pass to the connecting areas at the end of the beam 7.

In the space below the traveling beam of the support 3 on the rail side there is arranged a current generator unit 41 which is mounted on a platform 42 which is suspended on the traveling beam 20.

On the support 4 at the water side there is located a triangular support which comprises two legs 43 con nected to the ends of the upper connecting tie beam 11. To the tip of the support 43 there is pivotally connected one end of a bar 44 the other end of which is pivotally connected to the rearward end of the part 5 of the bridge beam. Furthermore, a bar 45 is pivotally connected to the tip of the support 43. Bar 45 is furthermore by a link 46 pivotally connected to a bar 47. Bar 47 is connected to eyes 48 which are mounted on the top side of the beam 7 in spaced relationship to the front end thereof.

A pull-in unit 49 is provided for pivoting the beam 7 upwardly. This pull-in unit is mounted on the rearward end of part 5 of the bridge beam and more specifically on the top side thereof. Cables 50 lead from two Wench drums ofthe pull-in unit 49 over deviating rollers 51 at the tip of support 43 in a block-tackle system to reversing rollers 52 near the eyes 48.

Counter weights 53 are arranged in the support 3 at the land side, and more specifically on both sides of plate 27 in the gussets between the inclined posts 21 and the traveling beam 20.

Below the rear end of part5 of the bridge beam there is suspended a housing 54 which comprises electrical devices and is connected to the crane cab for the crain conductor. Housing 54 has its rear side connected to the intermediate member 22 of the support 3 at the land side.

The assembly of the crane is effected in the following manner: as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, first the traveling beams 14 and 20 of the support at the water and land sides are together with their carriages 17 and 24 respectively placed upon the rails 19 and 26 and are held by stay cables 55. The platform 42 is already suspended on the traveling beam 20. Thereupon, in conformity with FIGS. 4 and 5. the rear portion 5 of the bridge beam is placed upon the traveling beam 20. The torsion-resistant extensions 32 with the reversing rollers 31. 36 already are mounted on the bridge beam on which the pull-in unit or pull-in mechanism 49 is mounted. The bridge beam part 5 already supports the trolley carriage 10 which by means of its supporting wheels is placed upon the sections of the trolley carriage 9, said sections being mounted on the part 5. Subsequently, according to FIG. 7, that portion of the support 3 at the land side which comprises the posts 21, the intermediate section 22 and the head section 6 and which has been assembled on the ground is erected on the traveling beam 20. To this end. the foot ends of the posts 21 are by means of hinges 23 connected to the traveling beam 20 while the head section 6 still rests on the ground. The support part 21, 22, 26 is then pivoted upwardly into the vertical position. An intermediate position is indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 7. The upward pivoting is effected by means of the pull-in unit 49 the cables of which pass over rollers 57 at the tip of the head section 6 to the connecting area 58 on the supporting part 5. The foot ends of the posts 21 are then firmly screwed onto the traveling beam 20. The thus formed support 3 at the land side is held by stay cables 59. Furthermore, the part 5 of the bridge beam has connected thereto in its final position with regard to the beam section 5 the upper tie beam 11 of the support at the water side.

The reversing rollers 33 are already mounted on the upper tie beam 11. Furthermore, the rollers 60 are arranged on both ends of the upper tie beam 11.

The beam 7 when occupying its stretched out position relative to the beam part 5 is by means of the joints 8 connected to the upper tie beam 11 and rests on the traveling beam 14.

In conformity with FIGS. 9 and 10, the post 13 of the support 4 on the water side is mounted on the traveling beam 14. To this end, the posts 13 are as indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 10 first by means of their foot ends in the hinges 15 connected to the ends of the traveling beam 14. In this position the posts 13 extend in horizontal direction but in opposite direction and rests on auxiliary supports 61. From this position they are pivoted in the hinges 15 into the final vertical position. This is effected by means of the pull-in unit 49 the cables 50 of which pass over reversing rollers 33 to deviating rollers 62. The rollers 62 are mounted on the beam 7 and more specifically centrally above the trav eling beam 14. This mounting is effected by means of holders 63 (FIG. 11). The holders 63 are journalled in joints on eyes 64 mounted on the beam 7. These joints make it possible to permit movement of the links independently of each other about an axis and to pivot about an axis which is perpendicular to the driving direction of the crane. The cables 50 are from the deviating rollers 62 in a block system conveyed to rollers 65 the bearings of which are connected to the posts 13.

Intermediate positions of the posts 13 occupied during the upward pivoting movement are shown in FIG. 10 by dot-dash lines. When the posts 13 occupy their final vertical positions, their foot ends are firmly connected to the traveling beam 14 by means of screws. Furthermore they are held by stay cable 66 (FIG. 9).

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the assembly of the support 43 on the bridge beam 2. The foot ends of legs 43 are in horizontal position indicated in FIG. 12 by dot-dash lines first by means of hinges 67 located at the from upper edge of the upper tie beam 11, connected to said tie beam. The bar 44 as well as the bar 45 are by means oflink 46 and bar 47 already connected to the tip of the legs 43. These bars occupy the horizontal and inclined positions indicated in FIG. 12 b6 dot-dash lines. Thereupon, the legs 43 are by means of their hinges pivoted upwardly into their final positions. This is effected by means of the pull-in unit 49 the cables 50 of which are by means of rollers 57 located at the tip of the support 3 at the land side. and also by means of rollers 68 located and passed in block arrangement to the rollers 51 at the tip of the legs 43. When the legs have been tilted upwardly to their vertical position. their foot ends are connected to the upper tie rod 11 by means of screws. Furthermore, the bar 44 has its lower end connected to eyes 69 which are provided for this purpose on the rearward end of the supporting part 5. Moreover. the bar chain 45, 46. 47 is stretched and the end of the bar 47 is connected to the eyes 48 of the beam 7.

Prior to starting the assembly of the support 43, the bridge beam 2 comprising part 5 and the beam 7 is pushed onto the driving beam and 14 by a certain distance.

Thereupon the bridge beam 2, as shown in FIG. 2, is displaced on the driving beam 14 and 20 to such an extent that the upper tie beam 11 is located centrally with regard to the post 13. In this instance the rear end face of the supporting part 5 is located flush below the front end face of the head piece 6 of the rear support 3. The housing 54 is now placed below the rearward end of the supporting part 5 and is suspended thereon.

Thereupon the bridge beam 2 with the structural elements mounted thereon is lifted vertically to its final position according to FIGS. 16. 17 and 18. This is effected by means of cable wenches 70 which are mounted on the ground which are assembled on the ground behind the traveling beam 20 (FIG. 16). From the drums of these wenches. cables 7! pass over reversing rollers 72 behind the support 3 on the land side to the rollers 57 and 68 located on the tips of said supports 3. From the rollers 68, the cables 71 pass in block and tackle systems to rollers at the rearward end of the support part 5. Additional cables 73 pass from the wen ches 70 closely above the ground to reversing rollers 74 which are mounted on the ground behind the traveling beam 14. From here the cables 73 pass upwardly to the rollers 75 which are located in upper structures 76 on the tips of the posts 13. Between the rollers 75 and rollers 60 mounted on the upper tie beam 11. the cables 73 are guided in block and tackle systems.

By pulling the cables 7] and 73 by means of the wenches 70, the bridge beam 2 is lifted from the position indicated in dot-dash lines in FIGS. 16 and 18, into the final position illustrated in solid lines. The rearward part 5 of the bridge beam is by means of its rear end face connected to the head piece 6 of the support on the land side. Furthermore. the upper tie beam 11 is by means of its end faces connected to the head pieces 12 of the posts 13 so that the frame l4. [3. ll of the beam on the water side is closed.

It is. of course. to be understood that the present invention is. by no means. limited to the specific showing in the drawings. but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A method of mounting a crane having a bridge beam with a hoisting mechanism. and front and rear support means each of which is provided with a travelling beam having hinged thereto post means pivotable from an at least approximately horizontal position to an upright position. which includes the steps of: respectively placing said travelling beams upon crane rails and temporarily holding the same in a position in which they are spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of said front and rear travelling beams, placing a rear portion of said bridge beam upon the travelling beam of said rear support means and on a temporary auxiliary support. subsequently pivoting said post means into upright position and fixedly securing same to the pertaining travelling beam. hoisting said bridge beam upwardly and placing the same into its final position relative to said front and rear support means and connecting same to said post means.

2. A method according to claim 1. which includes the steps of providing said rear portion of said bridge beam with a boom projecting from said rear portion in a direction away from said rear portion and toward said front support means. connecting the lower ends of the post means of said front support means by the pertaining hinge means to the ends of the pertaining travelling beam in such a way that the last mentioned post means respectively extend from the ends of said last mentioned travelling beam in opposite direction substan tially parallel to said last mentioned travelling beam. pivotally mounting on said boom and above said last mentioned travelling beam holding means for two deviating rollers for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to the direction of travelling of said crane. pivoting said posts by means of said hoisting mechanism and cable means passing over said deviating rollers into upright position. and rigidly connecting said posts to said travelling beam of said front support means.

3. A method according to claim 2, of mounting a crane with a bridge beam provided with a cable pulling mechanism, which includes the steps of placing a tie beam to form the upper tie beam for the front support means upon the front end of the rear portion of the bridge beam after said tie beam has been provided with joints for connecting the boom thereto. and with guiding rollers for the cables which pertain to the crane trolley and with the finish assembled crane pass over said guiding rollers. and passing cables from said cable pulling mechanism over said guiding rollers and operatively connecting said last mentioned cables to said post means for pivoting same upwardly.

4. A method according to claim 3. which includes the steps of: hinging the lower ends ofa pylon having a tip with deviating rollers thereon to the upper tie beam of the front support means so that the pivot axes of said lower pylon ends are substantially parallel to the travelling direction of the crane. pivoting said pylon into its final position on said upper tie beam by means of said cable pulling mechanism the cables of which pass in a block and tackle manner around said deviating rollers at the top of said pylon. pivotally connecting a bar to the tip of said pylon and also connecting it to the rear end of said bridge beam. and pivotally connecting a bar chain to the tip of said pylon while also connecting said bar chain to said boom.

5. A method according to claim 4. which includes the steps of prior to pivoting said rear support means and the post means of said front support means into upright position placing holder means with deviating rollers. upon the upper portion of said rear support means and of said post means of said front support means moving said bridge beam with crane parts thereon to a desired forward position passing cables over said last mentioned deviating rollers. and by means of these cables step of prior to the hoisting of said bridge beam to its final position providing the bottom side of said bridge beam with a hoisting for receiving crane components.

7. A method according to claim 6, which includes providing said housing with a crane conductor cab and with electric control means. 

1. A method of mounting a crane having a bridge beam with a hoisting mechanism, and front and rear support means each of which is provided with a travelling beam having hinged thereto post means pivotable from an at least approximately horizontal position to an upright position, which includes the steps of: respectively placing said travelling beams upon crane rails and temporarily holding the same in a position in which they are spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of said front and rear travelling beams, placing a rear portion of said bridge beam upon the travelling beam of said rear support means and on a temporary auxiliary support, subsequently pivoting said post means into upright position and fixedly securing same to the pertaining travelling beam, hoisting said bridge beam upwardly and placing the same into its final position relative to said front and rear support means and connecting same to said post means.
 2. A method according to claim 1, which includes the steps of providing said rear portion of said bridge beam with a boom projecting from said rear portion in a direction away from said rear portion and toward said front support means, connecting the lower ends of the post means of said front support means by the pertaining hinge means to the ends of the pertaining travelling beam in such a way that the last mentioned post means respectively extend from the ends of said last mentioned travelling beam in opposite direction substanTially parallel to said last mentioned travelling beam, pivotally mounting on said boom and above said last mentioned travelling beam holding means for two deviating rollers for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to the direction of travelling of said crane, pivoting said posts by means of said hoisting mechanism and cable means passing over said deviating rollers into upright position, and rigidly connecting said posts to said travelling beam of said front support means.
 3. A method according to claim 2, of mounting a crane with a bridge beam provided with a cable pulling mechanism, which includes the steps of placing a tie beam to form the upper tie beam for the front support means upon the front end of the rear portion of the bridge beam after said tie beam has been provided with joints for connecting the boom thereto, and with guiding rollers for the cables which pertain to the crane trolley and with the finish assembled crane pass over said guiding rollers, and passing cables from said cable pulling mechanism over said guiding rollers and operatively connecting said last mentioned cables to said post means for pivoting same upwardly.
 4. A method according to claim 3, which includes the steps of: hinging the lower ends of a pylon having a tip with deviating rollers thereon to the upper tie beam of the front support means so that the pivot axes of said lower pylon ends are substantially parallel to the travelling direction of the crane, pivoting said pylon into its final position on said upper tie beam by means of said cable pulling mechanism the cables of which pass in a block and tackle manner around said deviating rollers at the top of said pylon, pivotally connecting a bar to the tip of said pylon and also connecting it to the rear end of said bridge beam, and pivotally connecting a bar chain to the tip of said pylon while also connecting said bar chain to said boom.
 5. A method according to claim 4, which includes the steps of prior to pivoting said rear support means and the post means of said front support means into upright position placing holder means with deviating rollers, upon the upper portion of said rear support means and of said post means of said front support means moving said bridge beam with crane parts thereon to a desired forward position passing cables over said last mentioned deviating rollers, and by means of these cables hoisting said bridge beam to its final position and in this position connecting the rear end of said bridge beam to the top end of said rear post means and firmly connecting said upper tie beam of said front support means to the head portions of the posts of said front support means.
 6. A method according to claim 5, which includes the step of prior to the hoisting of said bridge beam to its final position providing the bottom side of said bridge beam with a hoisting for receiving crane components.
 7. A method according to claim 6, which includes providing said housing with a crane conductor cab and with electric control means. 